U.S. patent application number 10/171577 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for bird deterrent device.
Invention is credited to Riddell, Cameron A..
Application Number | 20030208967 10/171577 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29400754 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030208967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Riddell, Cameron A. |
November 13, 2003 |
Bird deterrent device
Abstract
A bird deterrent device comprising a base having spike elements
extending thereabove, the base comprising alternating segments of
differing widths having a scored or reduced thickness portion
therebetween, and an elevated portion through which the spike
elements are inserted into a channel formed in the bottom side of
the base, the channel further having detents designed and
constructed to hold the spike elements in place upon insertion.
Inventors: |
Riddell, Cameron A.;
(Manhattan Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JONES DAY
555 WEST FIFTH STREET, SUITE 4600
LOS ANGELES
CA
90013-1025
US
|
Family ID: |
29400754 |
Appl. No.: |
10/171577 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M 29/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/101 |
International
Class: |
A01K 003/00; E04H
009/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for deterring birds from alighting on a location,
comprising a base; a plurality of spike elements attached to said
base; said base having a segment that can be broken apart cleanly
and easily at a juncture between said segments.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said base has alternating
segments.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said base has an intermediate
reduced thickness portion at the juncture between said segments to
improve the flexibility of the base and to allow the base to be
broken apart at the juncture between said segments.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said base can be broken apart by
hand.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said segments have differing
widths, with the larger width being sufficient to provide lateral
stability to the device when attached to the perch location.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said base generally has a flat,
thin configuration with a substantially flat bottom for attachment
to a perch location, and elevated portions on the upper side of
said base only at the location where said spike elements are
attached to said base and through which said spike elements extend,
said elevated portions providing lateral support for said spike
elements.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said base is made of a
polycarbonate material.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said base has a thickness of less
than 0.0125 inches.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said junction is scored.
10. A device for deterring birds from alighting on a location
comprising: a base; a plurality of spike elements attached to said
base; said base having a bottom side that is attached to the
location and an upper side from which the spike elements protrude;
said spike elements having an elongate portion and a smaller bent
portion; said base having a series of channels formed in its bottom
side that are sufficiently large to accept said bent portion of
said spike elements; said base having a spike aperture that
registers with said channels, said elongate portion of said spike
elements extending through said spike aperture; and at least one
detent in said channels designed and constructed to hold said bent
portion of said spike elements snugly within said channels.
11. The device of claim 10 in which said spike elements have a
substantially L-shape.
12. The device in claim 10 in which said spike elements have a
substantially U-shape.
13. The device in claim 10 and in which at least one spike elements
has a substantially L-shape and at least one spike element has a
substantially U-shape.
14. The device in claim 10 in which there are a plurality of said
detents;
15. The device of claim 14 in which said plurality of detents are
placed on opposite sides of said channel.
16. The device of claim 15 in which said detents are placed
immediately across from one another in said channel.
17. The device of claim 10 in which said detent has a semicircular
shape.
18. The device of claim 17 in which said detent has a neck portion
that has a greater diameter than the remainder of the detent.
19. The device of claim 14 in which each of said detents has a
semicircular shape.
20. The device of claim 19 in which said detents have a neck
portion whose diameter is greater than that of the remainder of the
detent.
21. The device of claim 6 in which said spike elements are
constructed of metal.
22. The device of claim 6 in which said spike elements have a
substantially circular cross-section.
23. The device of claim 10 in which said spike elements are
constructed of metal.
24. The device of claim 10 in which said spike elements have a
substantially circular cross-section.
25. A device for deterring birds from alighting on a location,
comprising: a base for attachment to a location; a plurality of
spike elements attached to said base; said base having a plurality
of segments of differing widths; and said base having an
intermediate reduced thickness portion at a juncture between said
segments to improve the flexibility of the base and to allow said
base to be broken apart cleanly and easily by hand between said
segments at said juncture.
26. A device for deterring birds from alighting on a location,
comprising: a means for attaching a base to a location; a means for
attaching a plurality of spikes to said base; a means for enabling
a juncture between a plurality of segments to be flexible; and a
means for enabling said juncture between said plurality of segments
to be broken apart cleanly and evenly.
27. A device for deterring birds from alighting on a location,
comprising: a means for attaching a base to a location; and a means
for attaching a plurality of differently shaped spike elements to
said base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention hereinafter described and claimed relates
generally to bird deterrent devices, and specifically to the type
of bird deterrent devices comprising a base for attachment to the
perch location, and a series of spike elements protruding above the
base.
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] The desire to prevent birds from perching and roosting in
areas inconvenient to humans probably dates back to the Dark Ages
or before. The earliest bird deterrent devices were probably rocks
hurled at the perched birds. In the last century, however, more
modern and sophisticated devices have been developed, and have
included everything from lifelike replicas of owls, snakes and
other predators for the perching prey birds, to actual predators,
to devices that repetitively issue a loud gunshot-like noise, among
countless others.
[0005] Other type devices have been location-specific, and comprise
those implements that are attached directly to the perch location
and are intended to repel the birds from alighting. Amongst these
devices, it has long been known to use devices comprising a base to
be attached to the perch location, and a series of metal spikes
extending above the base at different angles. One of the earlier
U.S. patents granted for such a device was to J. S. Peles for an
invention entitled "Bird Proofing," issued as U.S. Pat. No.
2,475,047 on Jul. 5, 1949. Since then, innumerable modifications on
the basic design have been developed and patented.
[0006] This base-and-spike design has stood the test of time, and
is still widely used today. The more recently patented improvements
have not varied the basic design so much as they have been directed
to improvements in the means by which the spikes are attached to
the base element. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,552, a device
is disclosed in which one end of the spikes (having a generally
round cross section) has a protuberance formed by flattening the
spike material, with the resultant protuberance being slightly
larger than the cross section of the canal in the base to which it
is inserted. Inserting the protuberance into the canal causes some
deformation of the base material which provides the attachment
means.
[0007] In another patent directed to this same basic base-and-spike
design, European Patent No. 0,792,099, each of the spike elements
is made of a resilient material, and are the two ends of a rod that
is preformed into a U-shape having a pre-determined angle between
the two ends. In order to insert the two ends through their
respective canals in the base, the ends must be pulled together.
Once fully inserted, the ends are released, and seek to return to
their pre-formed angle of separation, but are prevented from doing
so by the construction of the canals in the base. The spike ends
are thus held in within the base by the force exerted by the spike
elements against the edge of the canals. As will be noted, the '099
patent only discloses the use of U-shaped, double spike elements. A
particular attachment problem arises with the use of a single spike
element. As shown in European Patent No. 0,792,099, when only
double spike elements are employed, the resiliency of the spike
material itself can be used as the attachment means. However, using
all double spike elements may not be the most optimum design for
various reasons. If a single spike element is employed in the
design, then the resiliency of the spike material cannot be
utilized in the manner disclosed in the '099 patent, and some other
attachment means must be used, such as the protuberance shown in
the '522 patent discussed above. That, however, adds to
construction and assembly costs, and may loosen over time,
particularly if there is not close tolerances on the canal and the
protuberances.
[0008] As these and other patents directed to the basic
base-and-spike design show, the illusive design goals are to have
an overall device that is stable and cannot be easily dislodged, to
have a means for attaching the spike elements to the base in which
the spike elements are also stable, and allow single L-shaped spike
elements to used, and lastly, to do so in a way in which the
component and construction costs are as low as possible. An
additional design goal is ease and universality of attachment, as
the perch locations come in all places, shapes and sizes.
[0009] It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide
such a device which accomplishes those illusive design goals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The bird deterrent device herein disclosed and claimed
comprises a base-and-spike type device that provides sufficient
stability for the device with the minimum amount of component
material by utilizing a base design characterized by alternating
portions of extended wing segments and narrow neck portions of the
base, in which the thickness of the base along its entirety is
thin, and only that portion from which the metal spikes actually
protrude is elevated so as to provide stability to the base-spike
attachment, and channels formed in the underside of the base into
which the spike elements are inserted, which channels have detents
that are designed and constructed to hold either the double or
single spike element snugly in place within the channel.
[0011] In addition, between each of the wing and neck segments, the
base is scored. The overall thinness of the base portion and the
intermediate scoring allows the device to be significantly bent,
without breaking, so as to be useful with radically curved perched
surfaces, and to be easily and cleanly broken by hand at the
segment lines, thereby allowing the installer to easily fit the
device to the exact length of the perch location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fully-assembled bird
deterrent device of this invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an end view of the device shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of two segments of the base of the
preferred embodiment of this invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of the base
section shown in FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an isolated view taken from circle 8 in FIG.
7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, the overall bird deterrent device of
this invention comprises generally a base 10 from which a series of
spike elements 12 protrude in a generally upward direction relative
to the base 10. The spike arrangement shown in FIG. 1 alternates
between a double spike elements 12A that extends upwardly and
outwardly from the base 10, and single spike elements 12B that
extend directly and perpendicularly above the base 10. The spike
elements 12A are in a substantially U-shape in which there are two
elongate portions that extend upwardly from a smaller intermediate
bent portion. The spike elements 12B are in a substantially L-shape
in which a single elongate portion extends upwardly from a smaller
bent portion.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when viewed from the side and
from the top, respectively, all of the spike element 12 are
preferably in parallel arrangement so as to provide the maximum
coverage with the minimum number of spike elements. It will be
appreciated, however, that any number of different spike
arrangements can be used.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the end, the spike
arrangement resembles a "W" arrangement, similarly intended to
provide the maximum coverage. In the preferred embodiment, a total
span width of approximately 5 to 8 inches is utilized. Many such
different spike arrangements are possible and this invention is not
restricted to the particular spike arrangement shown.
[0023] As seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, particularly FIGS. 3 and 5, the
base 10 comprises a series of adjacent wing segments 16 and neck
segments 18. In the preferred embodiment, these adjacent segments
are of unitary construction, but at their junction 20 are scored,
or otherwise have a reduced thickness. The purpose of this is to
allow adjacent segments to be easily and cleanly broken by hand to
aid in installation, and to provide for increased flexibility of
the base without breaking.
[0024] As will also be noted in FIGS. 3 and 5, the wing segment 16
has substantially extended width relative to the neck segment 18
(in the preferred embodiment, the segments 16 are 1.60 inches wide,
and the segments 18 are 1.00 inches wide), and thus provide lateral
stability to the bird deterrent device when it is installed on a
perch location.
[0025] In this embodiment, each of the wing segments 16 also has an
attachment hole 22 that extends entirely through the base 10. The
attachment hole is used to affix the base 10 to the perch location,
which can be by any conventional means such as nails, screws,
adhesive tape or glue.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the upper outside edges of the base are
rounded. As also seen in this Figure, each of the base segments 16
and 18 have elevated portions 24 and 26, respectively. As seen in
cross-section in FIG. 6, it will be noted that the base 10 is quite
thin (in the preferred embodiment, 0.080 inches), whereas the
elevated portions extend an appreciable distance thereabove (in the
preferred embodiment, 0.244 inches). The elevated portions 24 and
26 can be designed and constructed to accommodate anywhere from one
to several spike elements. In the preferred embodiment shown
herein, however, the elevated portion 24 is designed and
constructed to accommodate up to three spike elements, whereas
elevated portion 26 can accommodate two spike elements.
[0027] The entirety of the base 10, including the elevated portions
24 and 26, can be made out of any appropriate material that
exhibits acceptable characteristics of strength, durability,
flexibility and low cost. In the preferred embodiment, however, a
polycarbonate material is used. It will thus be appreciated that by
keeping the base 10 thin, and using a plastic material that has
some flexibility while not sacrificing strength, the bird deterrent
device of this invention can be used not only on flat surfaces, but
also surfaces that are radically curved. The scoring or reduced
portion 20 assists in this regard, as well.
[0028] As seen in FIG. 6, the elevated portion 24 has three spike
tunnels 30 extending completely therethrough. As will be noted, the
diameter of the tunnels 30 is larger at the base 10 than at the top
of the elevated portions to facilitate insertion of the spike
elements therethrough.
[0029] As best seen in FIG. 7, which depicts the underside of the
base 10, channels 32 are formed in the base 10. Each of the spike
tunnels 30 communicates with a channel 32.
[0030] As seen in FIG. 8, within each channel 32 are multiple pairs
of opposing semicircular detents 34 that extend inwardly from the
inside surface of the channels 32. The end of each detent 34
adjacent to the bottom side of the base 10 has a slightly enlarged
neck portion 36 terminating in a reduced diameter portion 38. The
purpose of detents 34 is to securely hold the bent portions of the
spike elements 12A and 12B in place after insertion, regardless of
whether the spike element 12 is U-shaped or L-shaped. For example,
referring back to FIG. 1, it is seen that in the preferred
embodiment spike elements 12A are double spike elements created by
forming the spike rod into a U-shape before insertion. During
construction of the bird deterrent device, the distal ends of the
legs or elongate portion of the spike elements 12A are inserted
into the two spike tunnels of segment 18 of base 10, and inserted
fully until the center bent portion of the spike element 12A is
pulled or pushed into the spike channel 32 past the neck portion 36
on detents 34. As will be appreciated, the channel 32 is of
sufficient depth so that the center bent portion of the spike
element 12A resides entirely within the channel 32, thus preserving
a perfectly flat bottom surface to the base 10 for attachment to
the perch location. Once the spike element 12A is properly seated
within channel 32, the distal ends can then be manually pulled
apart to the degree desired. The spike elements 12A and 12B can be
constructed of any material having suitable characteristics of
strength, flexibility and resiliency, but are preferably made of
302 or 316 stainless steel, and preferably have a circular
cross-section with diameter of 0.046 inches. The channels 32 have a
similar width, and the space between the adjacent detents 34 is
preferably 0.032 inches.
[0031] The spike elements 12B comprise a single elongate portion
and a smaller bent portion at one end thereof, and utilizing the
attachment means of channel 32 and detents 34, can be held in place
just as snugly as the U-shaped spike elements 12A. A leg or
elongate portion of the spike element 12B is preferably inserted
through the center spike tunnel 30, as shown in FIG. 6, until the
bent portion of the L-shaped spike element is brought flush within
spike channel 32, and is held in place by detents 34.
[0032] As will be appreciated, the combination of the thin base 10
and the elevated portions 24 and 26 provide sufficient support for
the spike elements 12, and the elongated wing portions on base
segments 16 provide for lateral stability to the device while
minimizing the amount of raw material that must be used in the
construction of the base 10, and allowing the base 10 to attain
sufficient flexibility so that it an be used on non-flat surfaces,
and the scoring between the adjacent segments provides numerous
easy and clean breakpoints. The use of the detents 34 instead of
other attachment means previously utilized provides for ease of
construction, a secure final product, and works with both the
U-shaped double spike element and the L-shaped single spike
element. Thus, the invention herein disclosed provides many
advantages over the prior art devices.
[0033] The invention herein disclosed and the protection provided
therefor by this patent is not limited to the preferred embodiment
set forth and described above, but is of the full breadth and scope
of the following claims.
* * * * *